More and more Russian ships are being followed by the Dutch navy in the North Sea

The Dutch Navy is increasingly escorting suspicious Russian ships in the North Sea, the NOS has reported. The number of suspicious ships that have been escorted has doubled in the last year, from 11 Russian ships in 2023 to 20 ships in 2024. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense to the NOS.

Over the past year, the Navy has escorted several Russian naval vessels, including the Admiral Golovko and the Soobrazitelny. Russian research vessels such as the Yantar have also been monitored. The Yantar conducts maritime research, but analysts say Russia uses these types of research vessels to map vital infrastructure at sea.

The most important infrastructure in the North Sea consists of gas pipelines, but also of submarine power and data cables. The Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) had already warned that Russian ships are investigating the possibilities for espionage and sabotage of this infrastructure.

HCSS defense specialist Patrick Bolder has said that they have noticed Russian ships sailing over the cables more often. "That is a military operation, there are armed soldiers on those research vessels." On board, the Yantar has several unmanned submarines, which it can use to reach undersea cables.

However, the bar needed to enter a ship is high due to sea laws, and, therefore, the Russians have a right to sail through the sea. The Dutch Navy is only able to follow and escort them.

The Dutch Navy is also following civil Russian ships. According to Russia's maritime doctrine, even these types of civilian vessels may be used for military purposes.